Brucella canis

Brucella canis is a Gram-negative bacterium in the family Brucellaceae that causes brucellosis in dogs, other canids, and in rare cases, humans. It is a non-motile short-rod or coccus-shaped organism, and is oxidase, catalase, and urease positive. B. canis causes infertility in both male and female dogs. It can also cause inflammation in the eyes. The hosts of B. canis ranges from domestic animals to foxes and coyotes. It is a zoonotic organism, meaning it is able to be passed from animals to humans. It is passed from species to species via bodily fluids such as genital secretions and urine. Treatments such as spaying, neutering, and long-term antibiotics have been used to combat B. canis in dogs. The species was first described in the United States in 1966 where mass abortions of beagles were documented. Brucella canis can be found in both pets and wild animals and lasts the lifespan of the animal it has affected. B. canis has two distinct circular chromosomes that can attribute to horizontal gene transfer.